Feingold Response-St Croix River Bridge

Dear Mr. Schaefer,



Thank you for contacting me to share your opposition to the construction of a new bridge across the St. Croix River on State Highway 36 near Stillwater, Minnesota. I appreciate hearing from you.



The Wisconsin and Minnesota Departments of Transportation (DOT) have created the St. Croix River Crossing Project. The primary goal of the project is to construct a new bridge to connect Washington County, Minnesota, and St. Croix County, Wisconsin. The new bridge would accommodate vehicular traffic, allowing the historic Stillwater Lift Bridge to be utilized by bicycle and pedestrian traffic only. The cost of the project is estimated at $670 million, with Wisconsin and Minnesota each contributing.

On March 11, 2010, U.S. District Court Judge Michael Davis issued an opinion stating that construction plans for the proposed new bridge violate the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The National Park Service (NPS) had previously given approval to the project. The St. Croix River was designated a Wild and Scenic River in 1964 due to the efforts of former Wisconsin senator Gaylord Nelson. This designation prevents actions that would harm the recreational and scenic value of the river. The NPS is required to issue a new evaluation that addresses the court's concerns. The project has been put on hold pending the NPS evaluation.